LEPRINCE FINE ART
LePrince Fine Art, located at 184 and 183 King St., doubles as a studio for owner and artist Kevin LePrince. LePrince paints there six days a week and encourages guests to watch and ask questions about the process. The walls are filled with bodies of work from a select few nationally recognized, emerging artists from across North America. While the general look of the artists represented could be described as contemporary impressionism, each artist has a unique style defined by brushstrokes, palette choices and compositions. “I’m trying to encourage artists to push their creativity,” LePrince says. “I do this by giving them more wall space. That way, they’re not restricted, and they can get outside of their comfort zones, push the envelope a little.”
Between both galleries, there is 3,600 square feet of open gallery space, high ceilings and hardwood floors. The gallery has been designed to highlight the art—a collector can relax and enjoy a painting from a distance. Unable to visit in person? Visit the LePrince website for constant updates or to browse before coming in.
LePrince Fine Art
843-442-1664
leprince.com
MEREDITH POSTON
Meredith Poston was born in Louisville, Kentucky, into a family who appreciated the fine and performing arts. From an early age Poston wanted to be a fine artist and was strongly encouraged by her family. She focused on human and animal subjects, and she copied the work of her father, who was a medical illustrator.
Throughout her adolescence Poston’s passion for art grew. She participated in art classes and camps throughout high school. She attended Western Carolina University, majoring in fine art and communications, where she developed her abstract style. After graduation Poston left the North Carolina mountains for the Charleston coastline, settling on James Island in 2009.
Poston paints abstract expressionist remembrances and reflections. She finds solace in loose, sporadic brushstrokes, with a combination of soft elements juxtaposed with stark separations of contrasting color. Her work is an expression of nature as she sees it—colorful, sometimes gentle, but often startlingly real. Poston paints in her home studio when not working as a freelance writer.
Meredith Poston
843-593-5215
mposton.com
DEBRA PAYSINGER
Debra Paysinger’s master’s degree in biology has informed her subject matter, as she primarily paints birds, lures, sea life and rabbits—or the raddits, as she endearingly refers to them. She owns the registered trademark for the term “the raddit” and each whimsical creation is uniquely numbered within the painting.
Paysinger assigns a not-to-be-repeated human name to each expressive bird she paints. These names are found on the back of each work. These striking animal portraits stand on their own yet have a grounded familiarity with the others. It’s as if Paysinger knows the personality of every raddit and bird and finds a way to let that personality shine through. Paysinger paints and sells what she loves––and nothing could make her happier.
You can find Paysinger’s art in Studio 151 Fine Arts Gallery on Church Street in Charleston, at Over the Mantel Gallery on Carlisle Street in Columbia, and at Abode Home 2 in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
Debra Paysinger
debrapaysinger.com
KELLIE JACOBS
Kellie Jacobs has spent her life watching the seasons change among the marshes and beaches of the South Carolina coast. After graduating from the College of Charleston, Jacobs decided to pursue a professional career as a painter.
Working primarily in pastel, she paints landscapes using atmosphere and light to create mood and expression in her art. “I am fascinated with the light at the end of the day,” she says. “When the evening sun is low and warm, touching the tops of the sand dunes and grasses of the marsh—that is the time of day I love best.”
Jacobs’ juxtaposition of bright colors and soft textures appeals to both domestic and international collectors. Traveling to foreign locations has also enhanced her ability to manipulate her chosen medium of pastel to produce desirable and collectible artwork.
Many of her works hang in prestigious corporate and private collections, both nationally and abroad. Jacobs’ work can be seen online and at the Lowcountry Artists Gallery at 148 East Bay St.
Kellie Jacobs
843-906-6746
kelliejacobsart.com
MITCHELL HILL GALLERY
Filled with paintings, sculptures, custom furniture and photographs, Mitchell Hill Gallery offers the city a refreshing departure from the formal, traditional spaces so often seen in Charleston.
Original works from over 35 artists from across the United States are currently on display in its mixed-use space. Daily arrivals and departures foster an ever-changing environment you will want to stop by often.
The first-floor gallery space offers a sneak peek into the interior design aesthetic of owners and designers Michael Mitchell and Tyler Hill. Upstairs, Mitchell Hill offers full-scale interior design services.
The gallery always pulls from its enormous inventory when building a project. “Often, we’ll use a piece of art as a leaping-off point,” co-owner Michael Mitchell says.
Custom furniture made in the Southeast breaks up the 5,000-square-foot space, featured in creative vignettes that are outfitted with unique accessories, pillows and artwork.
Located at 438 King St., Mitchell Hill Gallery is open seven days a week. Visit the website to explore interior design projects as well as a roster of artists and the Mitchell Hill collections.
Mitchell Hill Gallery
843-564-0034
mitchellhillinc.com
ELLA W. RICHARDSON FINE ART
Ella W. Richardson Fine Art is home to a talented array of artists whose styles range from realistic to impressionist to abstract. The gallery currently features the work of Aleksander and Lyuba Titovets—a couple who draws inspiration from their native home of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Aleksander Titovets’ style combines a powerful realistic involvement with the soft, lyrical looseness of impressionism. He has an unceasing determination to capture, in his own words, “the graciousness of the soul,” which led him to be selected to paint former first lady Laura Bush’s portrait that hangs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Lyuba Titovets’ colorful still lifes are based on intricate settings she arranges in her studio. They demonstrate an appreciation of color harmony and Russian folk traditions, which translate into imaginative figurative works. She often peppers her paintings with cultural and art history references.
The couple’s artwork is featured in private and public collections around the world. Stop by Ella W. Richardson Fine Art at 58 Broad St. to enjoy their most recent collection of works.
Ella W. Richardson Fine Art
843-722-3660
ellarichardson.com
BEN HAM IMAGES
BEN HAM IMAGES
Ben Ham has been making the connection between his camera and the South Carolina coast for most of his life. Using methods some would call old-fashioned —a large-format wooden camera, a cloth over his head and large sheets of film—Ham captures the essence of the Lowcountry in his richly detailed black-and-white images. But he doesn’t stop there. His love of travel and beautiful places has taken him to the American West as well as to Italy and France.
Ham painstakingly develops and prints his images at his production facility on Hilton Head Island. His limited-edition prints, framed in Italian olive wood, have found their way to individual, corporate and U.S. government collections.
In his book, Vanishing Light, Ham reveals 69 stunning American landscapes and explains what inspired him to capture them.
Visit Ben Ham’s Charleston gallery at 416 King St. or his new gallery in historic Old Town Bluffton at 210 Bluffton Road.
Ben Ham Images
843-410-1495 (Charleston)
843-815-6200 (Bluffton)
benhamimages.com
CHERYL NEWBY GALLERY
There aren’t many galleries where you can browse both antique and contemporary art in a single visit. However, at Cheryl Newby Gallery in Pawleys Island, you can.
Owner Cheryl Newby maintains an extensive selection of contemporary paintings and sculpture alongside a selective inventory of antique maps and prints. This year, the gallery celebrates its 35th year in business.
A quick look around the antique side will turn up works by the likes of John James Audubon, George Edwards, Mark Catesby and John Gould. If those don’t satisfy, Newby will gladly find something more to your taste or hunt down prints by a particular artist, should you have one in mind.
When it comes to contemporary artists, the gallery represents 13 painters from throughout the country, including William McCullough (S.C.), the late Ray Ellis (Mass.), Paula Holtzclaw (N.C.), Martha dePoo (Fla.), the late Quita Brodhead (Pa.) and Mike Williams (S.C.). Three nationally known sculptors— Sandy Scott (Wyo.), Gwen Marcus (N.Y.) and Catherine K. Ferrell (Fla.)—also have work in the gallery, as does fine ceramics artist Glenda Taylor (Fla.) and portrait painter James Crowley (S.C.).
Cheryl Newby Gallery
843-979-0149
cherylnewbygallery.com
REINERT FINE ART
Owned by contemporary impressionist painter Rick Reinert and his wife, Ann, Reinert Fine Art showcases more than 50 regional and nationally acclaimed classical painters, as well as both figurative and abstract sculptors.
Each of their three locations is thoughtfully curated to appeal to both the connoisseur and casual collector. Reinert Fine Art is pleased to present a collection of paintings and sculptures that range in style from traditional to contemporary.
Reinert Fine Art has two locations in Charleston. The location at 179 King St. boasts an outside courtyard and sculpture garden gallery, offering fine art in bronze, while 202 King St. features fine contemporary works and artisan jewelry. A third gallery, located at 1153 Main St. in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, offers many of the same highly acclaimed artists, including master painters within The American Impressionist Society and Oil Painters of America, in addition to regional artists.
Reinert Fine Art
843-694-2445
reinertfineart.com
STUDIO 151 FINE ARTS
Located near the corner of Church and Market streets, Studio 151 is filled from floor to ceiling with pieces from over a dozen local artists, all of whom use their art to respond to what’s around them here in the South. From Bob Graham, a Civil War painter, to Daryl Knox, who’s inspired by Lowcountry marshes and creeks, a passion for this unique corner of the country is evident throughout the gallery.
Studio 151 also features watercolors, oils, monotypes, and mixed media from Colleen Wiessmann, Lu Bentley, Sandy Scott, Detta Zimmerman, Rosie Phillips, Jennifer Koach, Amelia Whaley, Dixie Dugan, Nancy Davidson, Debra Paysinger, Christie Crosby, Nancey R. Rushing, Kelly Meredith Paysinger Hart, and jewelers Lissa Block and Jean Norman.
Styles and subjects can range from collage works to abstracts and traditional realism, and the gallery’s jewelry artists ensure you can always leave with a wearable souvenir. Artists are in-house daily to greet and discuss their works, and the gallery is open every day of the week.
Studio 151 Fine Arts
843-579-9725
studio151finearts.com
REVEALED ART GALLERY
Since opening last year, Revealed Art Gallery has solidified itself as a local hub of culture and creativity. The dynamic gallery space showcases an eclectic mix of artists and mediums, ranging from paintings, sculptures and photographs to handmade jewelry, bags and furniture. Currently, works from over 20 local and regional artists and artisans are on display.
Founders Jacyln Quilal-Ian and Scott Parsons enjoy the contrast their contemporary art gallery, located in the French Quarter, just steps from Charleston’s iconic Dock Street Theatre, brings to its historical surroundings. The longtime friends and art enthusiasts also strive to foster connections with the community through workshops, classes, events, private rentals, brand collaborations and more.
On October 12, the gallery will host abstract and landscape painter Liliana Maya. And on November 2, metal sculptor Susan Woodford will exhibit some of her large exterior sculpture— a first for the gallery.
For gallery hours and more information about upcoming events, visit revealedgallery.com.
Revealed Art Gallery
843-872-5606
revealedgallery.com
BETSY JONES MCDONALD
Charleston artist Betsy Jones McDonald began her artistic training as a teen with watercolorist Geri Davis of Columbus, Georgia. She went on to study fine art at Columbus State University, and her eye for design was later put to work as a design manager during her years working in visual merchandising.
After moving to Columbia, South Carolina, McDonald began doing murals, which is when she realized her true love lay in large-format painting. She’s pursued oil on canvas ever since and paints using her own custom-mixed hues. McDonald also co-owned Island Art Gallery in Pawleys Island for four years, where she continues to regularly teach color theory workshops.
These days, McDonald’s art is inspired by the marsh surrounding her Daniel Island studio. “I love the colors of the marsh and the way they change with the seasons and the tides,” she says. “Every time you look at the marsh, you see something different, and I’m fascinated by that.”
You can find her paintings exhibited at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, Island Art Gallery in Pawleys Island, Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant and at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.
Betsy Jones McDonald
207-320-5884
betsyjonesmcdonald.com
CASA HUGER BACOT
Beaufort, South Carolina-based watercolorist Casa Huger Bacot has a keen understanding of color, shape, texture and movement—a talent resulting from genetic predisposition, formal arts education and life experience.
Her mother, Sarah Huger Tanner, was a jeweler and sculptor. After the birth of her fourth child, Bacot decided it was time to explore her own talents. She first studied painting at the University of Richmond, then later transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University before ultimately pursuing a career as an independent artist.
Over time, she developed her signature style, using a method she calls “loose” painting—allowing her still life paintings to appear as though they are not still at all. Her vibrant and opaque watercolors, which depict landscapes, rooms and objects, evoke feelings of joy and splendor.
Some of Bacot’s favorite subjects include scenes of New England—including harbors, pine forests and flowers— where she lived for eight years. Currently, her paintings are represented at The Charles Street Gallery in Beaufort’s historic district at 914 Charles St.
Casa Huger Bacot
828-243-1122
TOM POTOCKI
Some of Tom Potocki’s earliest memories include helping his father paint large commercial images on walls and billboards. Such experiences led him to a fine arts degree at Pennsylvania’s Carnegie Mellon University and then to New York City. There he became involved in the pop art movement, which impacted his art thereafter. “My art is a visual and emotional response to what I see and experience around me,” he says.
Potocki describes his work as refined graffiti. “The images that develop in my work are derived from a process of applying splashes and layers of color to a surface and letting go of the notion that I have to control every detail,” he says. “The finished pieces should entice the viewer to look beneath the surface of what we think we see around us and discover something new.”
In this way, Potocki invites viewers to use their imaginations, and become a part of the creative process as well as the finished product. Potocki’s work can be seen online and at Mitchell Hill Gallery at 438 King St.
Tom Potocki
843-763-2481
tompotocki.com
CARLYN RAY DESIGNS
Artist Carlyn Ray shares creativity through custom glass art and site-specific installations. During her first 10 years of training, Ray worked under various master glass artists, including Dale Chihuly. She has come full circle to build a multitalented team in the Dallas Design District, with a focus on custom art and projects for and with the community.
Contact Carlyn Ray and her team to collaborate on your custom glass artwork. Carlyn Ray Designs operates at Ray’s Dallas Glass Art studio and gallery. Dallas Glass Art is open to the public and offers hot glass classes, teambuilding and private events.
Shown are pieces created in conjunction with families for their homes. Often the families participate in the making of their personal piece. Ray believes this personal connection with the art makes it that much more special and a true heirloom for many generations.
Carlyn Ray Designs
214-741-1442
carlynraydesigns.com
PERSPECTIVE GALLERY
Featuring works from more than 45 local artists, Perspective Gallery serves as a space for members of the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild to display and market their work. It is the Lowcountry’s largest source for unique paintings and photographs created by members of the local community.
At Perspective Gallery you won’t just find static art on display. Often you can watch artists working on their latest piece. “Watching artists work right in front of you gives a wonderful feeling of participation,” says artist Michael Kennedy. “It creates a unique bond when you take a painting or photograph home.”
In addition to workshops throughout the year, the gallery hosts special events several times a year as well as workshop opportunities for private functions.
Located at 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Perspective Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and is staffed by the artists each day. Visit the website to take a virtual tour and view the workshop schedule.
Perspective Gallery
843-800-5025
mpagperspectivegallery.com
CHARLESTON ARTIST GUILD
The Charleston Artist Guild (CAG) was founded well over a half-century ago by a small group of local artists—including Anne Worsham Richardson, Alfred Heber Hutty and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner—who sought a way not only to display their own works, but to network with other artists in the city and to become more involved with the community. Today, over 70 artists are featured in the extensive gallery, now at 160 East Bay St., all of whom contribute to the organization’s outreach programs. A nonprofit organization, CAG is constantly busy fulfilling the wishes of its founders. To that end, the Guild works with Arts for Alzheimer’s, provides awards for its high school scholarship program, and also works with Extraordinary Arts and Pattison’s Academy.
Every September new exhibiting members are juried into the gallery. September is also when CAG’s monthly meetings with art demonstrations—always open to the public—resume. The Guild now has nearly 700 members, many of whom will be featured at CAG’s annual Members’ Exhibition at the Charleston Visitor Center in February 2018.
Charleston Artist Guild
843-722-2425
charlestonartistguild.com
HILARIE LAMBERT STUDIO
Hilarie Lambert is most known for her generous paint application— brushing layers and layers of color across the canvas. She puts down the paint in quick and loose, but strong, brushstrokes, imparting energy and a spontaneous sensibility to each work. The resulting patches of colors and shapes come together to form her signature style, best described as contemporary impressionism.
Her latest series, The Botanicals, was inspired by recent travels over the last year to Madrid, Paris and the South of France, and Argentina. The large-format series consists of oil paintings with saturated color and vibrancy.
When not traveling to paint and teach workshops internationally, her work can be found at Hilarie Lambert Studio & Gallery on James Island. Join Lambert for an open house on November 17 and 18 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Hilarie Lambert Studio
843-822-1707
hlambert.com
